SAN DIEGO – Antonio Cromartie is a new man and perhaps ready to be his old self, as evidenced by the interception he made Saturday night and by a string of impressive practices.

The pick in Arizona, where he read quarterback Kurt Warner and moved to step in front of Larry Fitzgerald in the end zone, was not something he could have done last season. His hip was hurt, and his head was spinning.

“Last year, the way I played, I probably would have just broken up the pass,” he said. “I wasn't as explosive last year as I am right now.”

Cromartie is perhaps starting to get his thefts in bunches. He made two interceptions Tuesday. They came on what were not the best throws Philip Rivers has ever made, but Cromartie was in the right spot and made the catches, à la his 10-interception 2007.

“I've felt good the whole camp,” he said.

Chargers coach Norv Turner said recently, “I think Antonio is setting himself up to have a great year.”

Lights out

Shawne Merriman did not practice for a second straight day due to knee soreness and said there was a possibility he wouldn't practice Wednesday. But he said he will play Saturday in Atlanta. “We're just playing it safe,” he said. “Everything has been going so smoothly. No one wants a setback.”

Nuts 'n' Bolts

Kynan Forney, who is wearing a neck brace to help limit the possibility he will aggravate his neck strain, split first-team reps at right guard with Louis Vasquez. The Chargers are still limiting Forney's work. The brace forces Forney to alter his movement a little, but Forney figures he will have to wear it for en extended period: “I don't need anything shutting me down for three or four days again.”

Cromartie wasn't the only player making interceptions Tuesday. “Pick City,” the defense shouted after Kevin Ellison grabbed what was at least the fifth interception of the afternoon practice. Said Philip Rivers, who was intercepted on successive plays by Kevin Burnett and Cromartie: “That was brutal.”

Defensive end Jacques Cesaire has not practiced in two weeks due to a calf strain, but he expects to play Saturday. “It gets frustrating, but you can't think about that,” he said. “I feel better.”

Tight end Antonio Gates sat the afternoon practice for the first time this camp, saying his body was tired and sore.

Tuesday was the final two-a-day. Wednesday is the players' final night in the team hotel.